It may be difficult to determine if there is mold growth occurring in your attic. Attics have a lot of hidden areas that are often inaccessible and dangerous to access. The best thing that you can do is to create an environment in your attic that does not promote mold growth. So how do you do that?

     For mold to grow it needs a certain level of moisture, oxygen, and a food source. Common food sources for mold are wood, paper, and insulation (all found in most attics). You have limited control over the food source, however you can control the available moisture that mold needs to grow.

Sources of potential moisture issues in the attic include:

• Leaking roofs
• Bathroom and laundry room vents that terminate in the attic
• The HVAC system
• Water supply lines
• Water heaters
• Leaking dryer vents
•  Improper attic ventilation

     There are numerous sources of potential moisture issues present in our attics. Most attics are unconditioned spaces and open to exterior temperatures and humidity levels. Humidity levels 60% or greater supply sufficient moisture for mold to begin growing. Proper attic ventilation will help to control both temperature and the relative humidity in your attic. Sometimes the design of the attic inhibits proper ventilation. In these cases additional ventilation fans can be installed to assist the natural ventilation. Also if you have a lot of items stored in your attic this is also going to restrict airflow.